. . was completely based on slavery. Freeing the slaves could not "steal" the wealth of the South, it just evaporated. Without slaves there was nothing to steal.

An example is the famous Carolina rice, most of which was exported to England and the rest of Europe for great profit. Growing methods were totally based on slavery, so when the slaves were freed, "Carolina" rice was no longer grown in Carolina. It is now grown primarily in Texas and Louisiana.